Tire trim member and securing means therefor



Dec. 1, 1959 .1. H. BARNES 2,915,335

TIRE TRIM MEMBER AND SECURING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 22, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR. Jfi/VES BEEF/7E5 Dec. 1, 1959 J. H. BARNES TIRETRIM MEMBER AND SECURING MEANS 'mEREEb 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22,1956 ing up the trim members.

United States Patent TIRE TRIM MEMBER AND SECURING MEANS THEREFOR JamesH. Barnes, Wadsworth, Ohio Application May 22, 1956, Serial No. 586,558

7 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) This invention relates to tire trim members, andparticularly relates to a tire trim member for use in a tire and wheelassembly having special clip and ring means for securing the trim memberin position.

Heretofore there have been various substitutes proposed for whitesidewall tires in order to provide trim and decorative means for use ona tire assembly without incurring the expenses of and disadvantages ofwhite sidewall tires. Some of such prior constructions are shown, forexample, in my own prior Patents Nos. 2,737,422; 2,621,979 and2,696,409. Other structures are shown in US. Patents Nos. 2,573,996 and2,691,550. French Patent No. 1,061,278 shows yet another approach to theproblem of providing attractive trim and decorative members forattachment to sidewalls of tire assemblies.

These trim members have all been made from rubber or similar plasticmaterial and with the trim and decorative member being provided in anattractive color, such as white, although other colors may be used inmak- While some structures, particularly such as those shown in myPatent No. 2,737,422, have been very successful commercially and havebeen made and sold in large quantities, some people object to such typesof trim members. Assembly of these trim members on a pneumatic tirerequires deflation of the tire, a careful centering of the trim memberin the tire assembly and careful reinfiation of the tire. Usually therehas been an additional charge for placing the trim member on a tireassembly. The trim member is held in position by means of a radiallyinner skirt portion adapted to be clamped or fixed between the tire rimfiange'and the bead of a tire position on such rim. The remainder of thedecorative member extends up radially inwardly of the tire andresiliently hugs such tire sidewall.

' flation thereof.

Another object of the invtention is to secure a trim member to a tireand wheel assembly wherein the trim member is positioned by means ofmetal clips that can be pounded or otherwise secured to the rim flangeof a tire and rim assembly without injury thereto or change thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a trim member for atire and wheel assembly, the member having an associated anchor ringcarrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips for securing themember to the assembly.

Other objects of this invention are to provide metal I clip means forengaging the rim flange of the tire and wheel assembly to support a trimmember on such clip means, to provide clip means that will not collapsewhen pounded into engagement with a tire assembly, and to 2,915,335Patented Dec. 1, 1959 provide a special anchor ring and trim membercombination unit.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

In order to disclose the present invention fully, currently preferredembodiments thereof are shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the resilient rubber trim and decorativemember of the invention showing it operatively positioned;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, of the trimmember of Fig. 1, showing it engaged with a tire and rim in one type ofassembly;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective broken away to show a section of thetrim member of Fig. 1 as initially molded and with its operativeposition being indicated;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the trim member of Fig.3 showing it operatively positioned on a tire and wheel assembly by clipand anchor ring means of the invention;

Figs. 5 through 7 are perspective views of different styles of clipmeans such as can be used in anchoring a trim member to a tire and wheelassembly;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views, like Fig. 3, of modified types oftrim members of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a section through an assembly of the trim member of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of an assembly of the entire wheel, trim member,anchor means of Fig. 4, but indicating how many of the trim members ofthe invention would be positioned;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another style of a retainer clip;

Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged sections through modified anchor rings ofthe invention that have trim members bonded thereto;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section showing the anchor ring of Fig. 13 in atire and rim assembly;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another anchor ring shown in sectionalengagement with a retainer clip; and

Fig. 17 is a section of yet another style of an anchor ring shownoperatively positioned in a wheeel assembly.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

The present invention in general relates to the combination of apneumatic tire and rim including a rim flange, a plurality of metalclips having a spaced pair of walls engaging the rim flange to securethe clips to the rim flange and extend inwardly therefrom on the outeredge thereof at spaced portions around the periphery thereof, a flexibletrim member having a radially inner section, and an anchor ring engagingthe radially inner ends of the plurality of clips and operativelyengaging the tire rim, the trim member being positioned against thepneumatic tire by the anchor ring securing an inner section of the trimmember against the rim flange and to the clips.

Reference now is made to the details of the structure shown in thedrawings, and an automobile vehicle is indicated by the numeral 1. Thisvehicle 1 has a tire and rim assembly thereon comprising a pneumatictire 2 which is carried on a metal wheeland rim 3 having an edge flange4 thereon. A resilient rubber trim and protective member 5 is positionedon this tire and rim assembly by means of a radially inner sharplycurved skirt portion 6 on the trim member being compressed or engagedbetween the rim flange 4 and a bead portion of the tire 2 positionedthereon. The trim and protective member 5 is of such an original shapethat when the skirt portion is positioned as in Fig. 2, then a radiallyouter, flatly curved decorative portion 7 thereof is maintained inresilient hugging or snug engagement with the sidewall portion of thepneumatic tire 2.

Fig. '3 of the drawing best shows a sectional view of this trim andprotective member 5 which is quite similar to the structure disclosed inand covered by my latent No. 2,737,422. However, this trim andprotective member 5 has a special feature therein in that an annularscoring 8 is provided in the skirt portion 6 spaced slightly from theradially inner edge thereof. Also, a transverse score 9 is provided inthe skirt portion and extends from the radially inner edge thereof tothe scoring 8 to provide a tearing or starting score so that a tearstrip 10 defined by the score 8 can be readily removed from engagementwith the trim member 5, if desired, for the purposes hereinafterexplained in more detail.

Fig. 4 is a good view of .a novel assembly of the invention wherein aplurality of metal clips 11 are used for securing an annular metalanchor ring 12 to the rim flange 3. A plurality of these clips 11 aresecured to substantially equally spaced circumferential portions of therim edge flange 4. These clips 11 may be considered to be substantiallyC-shaped in section for when looking at the opposite end of these clipsfrom that view shown in Figs. 4 and 5, these clips would have suchgeneral contour. The clips comprise inner retainer walls 13 thatpreferably have serrated or jagged upper edges 14 thereon to facilitatethe clips bonding and being anchored securely to the rim edge flangewhen engaged therewith, as hereinafter described.

Fig. 5 of the drawings also shows that preferably these clips 11 havesubstantially U-shaped sections 15 provided therein wherein the walls ofthe U-shaped sections are spaced from each other and some resiliency isprovided in the wall thereby. Such sections 15 may be inclineddownwardly slightly to facilitate the desired bending or flexing actiontherein, and they are outwardly directed with relation to the clips 11as a whole. Integral outer walls 16 are formed in the clips 11 and theyterminate in overhanging end sections 17. The end sections 17 are spacedfrom the upper edges 14 of the inner walls 13 so that the clips 11 canbe forced, pushed or pounded into engagement with the rim edge flange 4,as shown in Fig. 4, and be tightly bonded or secured thereto even thoughthe rim carries an inflated tire. Hence the clips 11 are carried by therim flange 3 and are of such a construction as to be tightly heldagainst the laterally outer surfaces thereof. Preferably the clips 11are provided with resilient locking lugs or fingers 18 struck frombottom portions thereof. These resilient locking fingers 18 protrudeslightly from the remainder of the clips and form means that can berelatively easily depressed to push the anchor ring 12 over a pluralityof the clips when engaging the anchor ring to the tire and wheelassembly.

The anchor ring 12 is generally of C-shape in section and the innerdiameter thereof is such as to permit such anchor ring 12 to be sprungover the radially inner ends of the clips 11 when a plurality of themare substantially equally spaced around the periphery of the tire rim 3and be anchored thereto by such clips. The anchor ring 12 preferably ismade from suitable sheet metal rolled to a desired contour as shown andhaving slight resiliency therein due to the contour thereof. The outeredge of such anchor ring 12 preferably engages with a strengthening rib19 provided on the trim and protective member 5 adjacent a flexure zonetherein provided intermediate the skirt portion and decorative portionthereof.

Before assembling the trim member 5 by the anchor ring 12, the tearstrip 16 should be torn or cut therefrom as the skirt portion 6 usuallyshould be shorter when so positioned than when mounted as in Fig.2.

Fig. 6 shows a modified type of a metal clip for;- use ,4 in theassembly of the invention, only in this instance, a clip 11a is shownand it has an outwardly struck retainer flange, finger or lug 20provided thereon. Such lug is formed by pressing, cutting or stamping orotherwise forcing a portion from the outer wall 16a thereof. The lug 20is adapted to engage the radially inner edge of the skirt portion 6 ofany trim member associated with such clip 11a prior to engaging themetal anchor ring 12 therewith and this facilitates the initial assemblyof the trim member to the tire assembly.

Fig. 7 shows another modified type of an anchor clip 11b and a featureof such clip 11b is that portions of the inner retainer wall 13b thereofhave lugs or flanges 21 pressed or struck therefrom. These flanges 21are adapted to abut against the outer wall of the clip 11b and preventthe inner and outer walls thereof from being collapsed and aid inretaining desired resiliency in the clip 11b.

Fig. 8 of the drawings shows a modified type of a trim and protectivemember 5a for use in practice of the invention. In this instance, arecess 22 is provided on the outer surface of the trim and protectivemember 5a intermediate the skirt and decorative portions thereof. Thus,when such trim and protective member is positioned by an anchor ring,the outer edge of the anchor ring can seat in the recess 22 providedtherein to aid in securing the trim member in position.

A novel style and shape of a trim member 23 is shown in cross section inFig. 9. In this trim member, the skirt portion is substantiallycoextensive with and of about the same general flatly curved shape asthe decorative portion of the trim member. This is a special trim memberprovided only for use with clip and anchor ring retaining means of theinvention as disclosed herein and could not readily be assembled in theposition shown for the trim and protective member 5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 illustrates the assembly of such trim member 23 in a tire andwheel assembly and wherein an anchor ring 12, as previously described,would engage a reenforcing rib 24 on the trim member 23 for securing themember in place.

A further modification of a metal clip is shown in Fig. 12. In thisinstance, a resilient pad or block 25 is suitably secured intermediatethe inner and outer walls of the clip 110 to prevent any collapsethereof. This resilient block 25 may be made from rubber or otherresilient plastic material and may be mechanically or chemically bondedto the clip 110, as desired.

It is a further important feature of the invention that a trim membercould be mechanically bonded and/or be vulcanized directly to an anchorring in the assembly to facilitate securing a trim member in desiredposition. Thus Fig. 13 of the drawings shows a novel anchor ring 112which has a substantially U-shaped edge flange 113 on its inner surface.In this instance, a trim and protective member 114 has a radially innerportion received in and completely filling such U-shaped edge flange 113and preferably with at least small buttons 115 of material being formedintegrally with the trim member 114 and extending through suitableapertures provided in the walls of the edge flange 113. This aids inmechanically bonding the trim member 114 in position, although ofcourse, the trim member can be vulcanized in place, if desired. Thisanchor ring 112 is secured in position by exactly the same style ofclips as disclosed hereinbefore.

Fig. 14 shows yet a further modified type of an anchor ring 121 whereina plurality of corrugations 122 are provided on a U-shaped inner flange123 formed integrally with the anchor ring. In this instance, themechanical bonding of a trim member 124 by being integrally molded inthe flange 123 may serve to bond it mechanically in place. However,other anchoring means such as cement ing, or vulcanization can be used,as described.

Fig. '16 shows yet a further style of an anchor ring 131 wherein aserrated, or corrugated bottom edge 132 is with a substantially providedon the ring. Thus a metal clip '133 is provided V-shaped lower edge forengaging these serrations 132. so that the ring 131 can be engaged witha plurality of clips 133 by having the radially inner edge of the ringforced over the radially inner edge of the clips 133 and effect a goodmechanical bond therewith for positioning a trim member 134 as shown.

Fig. 17 shows how the same style of clips 11 can secure a modifiedanchor ring 141 to a rim. The anchor ring 141 has a head or edge flange142 thereon that simulates a rim flange to make the sidewall assemblymore realistic. A trim member 143 can be vulcanized to the ring 141 orit may be clamped in position thereby, or bonded thereto, as desired.Note that the anchor ring 141 terminates in an inwardly directed edgeflange 144 which engages a rib 145 on the trim member 143 to hold it inplace. The trim member 143 could be cemented, vulcanized or otherwisebonded to the anchor ring 141, if desired.

Ribs or serrations 26 extending around the inner sur- 'face of the trimmember 23 are shown in Fig. 9. These ribs are upwardly directed andterminate in shoulders 27 and are believed to help retain the trimmember in operative position. Similar ribs may be used on the trimmember 5, if desired.

Of course, the assembly of the invention may be used with tubed ortubeless tires as desired.

The clips used for securing the anchor rings in position are made fromconventional metal of suitable gage and composition to enable them to beforced into engagement with a rim flange. Variations in thickness insuch flanges are compensated for by compression of the U- shapedsections 15. It will be appreciated that the flanges 21 of the clips 11bcan be used on the clips 11, if desired, and that the clips 11 may havethe locking lugs 18 omitted therefrom.

The anchor ring 12, or equivalents in the assemblies of the invention,can usually be sprung over the retainer clips holding them in positionby prying the anchor rings free. Such prying action may free theretainer clips from the rim flange to remove the trim member from thewheel assembly. The anchor ring, for example in Figs. 4, 10, 16 and 17,will compress the asociated trim member against its mounting clips andagainst the rim flange to secure the trim member in position. At leastsome compressive force is exerted by the anchor rings, in all cases,against the trim members.

A reenforcing or look rib 19 is provided on the trim member and othertrim members as desired. Thus the top flange or portion of the anchorring can interlock with such rib 19, or recess 22, Fig. 8, to aid insecuring the trim members in their operative positions.

It will be realized that the trim and protective members used inpractice of the invention may be made from any desirable plasticmaterial and usually some type of natural, or synthetic rubber, orrubber-like material is used. These trim members may be formed in anydesired color and initially are molded in such a cross sectional contourthat the decorative portion of the trim member must be urged axiallyoutwardly an appreciable distance to set up forces therein aiding inresiliently retaining such protective and decorative portion of the trimmember in operative engagement with a tire sidewall, all as disclosedin' more detail in my previous patent referred to hereinabove.

The word rim is used in the specification and claims to cover anystructure whether such rim is integral with a wheel construction, or tocover the rim if made separately from a support wheel.

While several complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particularembodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. In combination, a pneumatic tire and rim including a rim flange, aplurality of separate generally 0- shaped metal clips substantiallyimmovably secured to said rim flange and extending radially inwardlyover the outer edge thereof, a flexible trim member having a radiallyinner section, and ananchor ring having its radially inner edge engagingthe radially inner ends of said clips to be positioned thereby, saidtrim member being secured against said pneumatic tire by said anchorring pressing said inner section of said trim member against said rimflange and said clips.

2. In combination, a pneumatic tire and rim including a rim flange, aplurality of generally C-shaped metal .clips substantially immovablysecured to said rim flange and extending radially inwardly over theouter edge thereof, a flexible trim member having a radially innersection with a lock rib thereon, and a substantially C- shaped insection anchor ring engaging the radially inner ends of said clips toextend radially outwardly therefrom and operatively engaging said rimflange and said lock rib of said trim member to prevent radially outwardmovement thereof, said trim member being secured against said pneumatictire by said anchor ring securing said inner section of the trim memberagainst said rim flange and to said clips.

3. Apparatus for securing a resilient trim member to a pneumatic tireand rim assembly and comprising a plurality of generally C-shaped metalclips with inner retainer walls thereon, the radially outer ends of saidclips being adapted to engage a tire rim flange adjacent the edgethereof and with said retainer walls also engaging the rim flange to aidin securing the clips thereto, a ring adapted to be secured to apneumatic tire rim by engaging said clips, a plurality of said clipsbeing adapted to engage said rim around the periphery thereof, and aresilient trim member having a radially inner section bonded to saidring to extend radially outwardly from and be supported on said ring.

4. Apparatus for securing a resilient trim member to a pneumatic tireand rim assembly and comprising a plurality of metal clips with spacedwalls thereon and having radially outer ends adapted to engage an edgesurface of a tire rim flange, an annular unit adapted to be secured to apneumatic tire rim by engaging a plurality of said clips, said annularunit including a generally C-shaped in section annular anchor ringhaving an inwardly directed flange on its radially outer edge, and aresilient trim member having a reinforcing rib thereon at a radiallyinner portion thereof, said trim member being adapted to be positionedon the rim assembly and secured thereto by said anchor ring to extendgenerally radially outwardly from said anchor ring, said flange of saidanchor ring being adapted to engage a radially outer edge of saidreinforcing rib to aid in securing said trim member to a tire and rimassembly.

5. In combination, a pneumatic tire and rim including a rim flange, aplurality of metal clips having an overhanging flange engaging a rimflange to secure them immovably to said r' flange to extend radiallyinwardly thereform on the axially outer edge thereof and terminateradially outwardly from the radially inner edge of said rim flange, aflexible trim member having a radially inner section, and an anchor ringengaging the radially inner ends of said clips to extend radiallyoutwardly therefrom and be urged thereby axially inwardly towards thelateral margins of said rim flange, said anchor ring terminatingadjacent but radially outwardly of said rim flange, an outer portion ofsaid member being resiliently positioned against said pneumatic tire bysaid anchor ring which secures said inner section of said trim memberagainst the axially outer edge of said rim flange and said clips.

6. A combination as in claim 5 wherein said trim member is bonded tosaid anchor ring.

7. Trim member apparatus for engaging a tire, rim and wheel assembly andcomprising a plurality of clips having axially spaced inner and outerwalls and with 7 said outer walls having overhanging flanges thereon forengaging the lateral edge ofv a flange on the, rim, said clips having aradially inner section integrally connecting said inner and outer walls,said clips being adapted to contact the side of the rim flange and to beof the approximate radial length thereof, a resilient trim member ofannular form adapted to have its radially outer portion lie against atire sidewall and with its radially inner portion being adapted to lieagainst the outer edge of the rim flange and the outer wall of any ofsaid clips engaged therewith, the radially inner edge of said trimmember terminating radially outwardly of the radially inner ends of saidclips when operatively positioned, and an anchor ring of elongatedC-shape in section including an areuate edge flange on the radiallyinner end thereof that terminates in a radially outwardly directed edgeof a larger diameter than the diameter of a circle defined by theradially inner ends of said clips when operatively positioned, saidanchor ring being adapted to engage said clips and to extend radiallyoutwardly therefrom to hold the radially inner portion of said trimmember against said clips and rim flange when engaging said clips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

